Agatha Christie, while mainly known for her detective novels, has works that can be considered part of the crime noir genre. Her ability to create puzzles and keep readers guessing is remarkable. Martin Cruz Smith, although not strictly British but having written important works in the British context, is also popular. His novels often have a dark and moody atmosphere.
James Ellroy is quite popular. His novels often deal with the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles and are known for their complex plots and morally complex characters. Another is Dennis Lehane. His works, like 'Mystic River', are filled with the noir elements of dark secrets and moral ambiguity.
One popular author is Ian Rankin. His Rebus series is quite well - known in the realm of British crime novels. Another is Val McDermid, who has written many gripping crime stories.
One popular author is Ian Rankin. His "Rebus" series is well - known. Another is Val McDermid, who writes gripping crime novels with complex plots. And then there's Mark Billingham, whose books are also very much loved by crime fiction fans.
Dashiell Hammett is a very famous author of noir crime novels. He created the character Sam Spade in 'The Maltese Falcon', which is considered a cornerstone of the noir genre. Raymond Chandler is also well - known. His detective Philip Marlowe appears in several of his noir novels like 'The Big Sleep'. James M. Cain wrote 'Double Indemnity' and other noir works.
The top 10 crime noir novels are written by a variety of authors. For instance, Dashiell Hammett's works are known for their hard - boiled detective stories. James M. Cain was great at creating stories full of moral dilemmas. Raymond Chandler's writing style was characterized by his vivid descriptions and complex characters, all of which make their novels stand out in the crime noir genre.
James M. Cain is a great crime noir author. His novel 'Double Indemnity' is quite popular. Patricia Highsmith is another one. Her 'Strangers on a Train' has elements of crime noir. These authors are known for their ability to create complex characters and suspenseful plots within the crime noir genre.
Some of the best authors in crime noir fiction are Ross Macdonald. His Lew Archer series has complex characters and engaging plots. Jim Thompson is also a great one. His books like 'The Killer Inside Me' are disturbing yet brilliant. And Chester Himes with his Harlem - based crime noir novels is also highly regarded.
One of the well - known British crime noir novels is 'The Big Sleep' by Raymond Chandler. Although he was American, his works had a great influence on the genre in Britain as well. Another is 'Gorky Park' by Martin Cruz Smith, which is set in Russia but was written by a British author. 'The Long Goodbye' is also a great example. It has complex characters and a dark, moody atmosphere that is typical of crime noir.
One cannot forget Ian Rankin. He is the creator of the 'Rebus' series. His books often deal with the seedy underbelly of Edinburgh. His character Rebus is a complex and flawed detective. Also, Minette Walters is a notable author. Her novels like 'The Ice House' are known for their strong female characters and intricate plotlines in the realm of crime fiction.
Arthur Conan Doyle is very famous. He created Sherlock Holmes, a character known all over the world. His stories are set in London and are full of clever deductions and interesting characters.